DISCERNING DOCTRINAL TRUTH IN A MULTI-DOCTRINAL CHURCH CULTURE

      Within evangelical Christianity, we have a myriad of different and often opposing doctrines.  We all agree, I believe, on the fundamental tenets of the Gospel. After that, however, it seems as if everything is up for grabs!  We cannot agree on who can be baptized or even how to baptize for that matter. We cannot agree what is happening to the bread and wine during the Lord's supper. We cannot agree on the proper clothing for church and sometimes, a church may split over the color of the carpet!  

           The funny thing (funny weird, not funny haha) is this was not always the case.   Did you know, once upon a time, believers were all, actually, on the same page? Albeit, it was on the day the church was born, but it did actually happen. Acts 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

        The Bible says when two or more are gathered together in Jesus' name, there He is in the midst of them.  You know what else happens when two or more gather in Christ's name? Theological disagreement.

     One very divisive topic among Christians is the exercising of the gifts of the Spirit.  One believer claims the gifts are no longer in use and the other believer teaches if you do not speak in tongues, you are not really saved.  Obviously, two opposing views cannot both be true.  Both can be false, and in this instance, I believe both statements are false (oh look, now we have 3 views that cannot be reconciled, what joy!!)  

     The easy answer is, "What does the Bible say?" Well, one would think this is the easy answer, however, the fun thing about scripture, when taken out of context, we can make it say pretty much anything we want.  Now, imagine what would happen if we came to scripture asking God to show us what it really says rather than trying to make it say what we already think is true?  

      We all have the same scripture, as believers.  We all have the same Spirit of God indwelling us. So how can we all be so mixed up in our theology? The biggest obstacle we face is our sources of information.  If we are honest, most of what we believe, or think we know, has come from a source outside the Bible.  

      We all have a favorite theologian, a favorite person to learn from, whom we trust.  The average believer gets more theology form a preacher, whether from the pulpit or in a book, than from the Bible itself.  This is a big problem.

       Sadly, we cannot even agree if the Bible is to be taken literally or allegorically.  This, also, is a big problem.  If we choose to go the path of allegory, how do we even know where the path actually lies or where the edges of the path begin?  Some may argue, "yeah, Jesus spoke in parables." Yes, Jesus did speak in parables but He told His disciples this: “When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, ‘The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you.' 

        I find it ironic the two major parts of scripture most readily relegated to allegory are our origins and our end.  Admittedly, these are also the most difficult to wrap our minds around because we have no experience to which we can relate our beginning or end. The creation account was a one time event and we have no empirical evidence to support nor debunk. The Revelation account is described to us by a man who is seeing our future, with all of it's technology, a man whose greatest technology was an ox cart. The danger is to discredit or discount what we do not easily understand.

 HOW DO WE RECONCILE DOCTRINAL DIFFERENCES?      
      The first thing we must do, no matter what, is remember the command to love one another.  Nothing creates anger and animosity among believers faster than arguing over points of doctrine.  Can we not learn to disagree in love?  Are you willing to allow someone the grace to be wrong?  Are you willing to entertain the idea you may, possibly, be wrong? 

       The best way to reconcile doctrinal differences is to follow Paul's command in 2 Timothy 2:15 - Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who needs not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.       It appears to me, God is telling us here we can understand scripture and rightly divide truth.  What is hindering us?

       As stated earlier, we all have the same scripture and we all have the same Spirit of God, so shouldn't we all agree?  Here are some reasons why we do not:

     1. We don't read our Bibles for ourselves, we let others tell us           what it says

     2. Many who set doctrines had an agenda

     3. Antisemitism and ignorance of Hebrew scripture led some           early church fathers to mishandle New Testament writing

    4. Using scripture to defend rather than shape beliefs

     Unless you read the Bible with the attitude of a seeker of truth, you will fall into one or more of the traps above.  We live in an age when spiritual illiteracy is inexcusable. We can literally carry a Bible in our pockets through the miracle of technology and phone apps!

     Are you willing to read the Word of God for yourself and allow God's Spirit to teach you rather than a fallible, albeit well meaning, man?  Are you willing to challenge things you have been taught, using the clear teachings and influence of the Holy Spirit, as your guide?  Are you willing to follow truth, where ever it may lead?

    Grab a Bible and a hot cup of coffee, sit at the feet of the Master, and allow God to show you His truth.  I promise you, it will change your life!

Now, go live as Christ... and give the devil hell!